Why was there so much opposition to Elizabeth May entering the debates? Go to the 6:30 minute mark in the video below and see her endorsement of Dion and the Liberals. I feel for the Green candidates who are committed to their party and the environment, yet have to run under a leader encouraging voters to support a rival party. Last week she encouraged voters to vote strategically to block the Conservatives. Can anyone name a riding where voting strategically would lead to a Green victory? Clearly May is the Liberal candidate in Central Nova and is putting her own seat ahead of the interests of her candidates. -Darryl
Just like the last two elections, we are back to the Hidden Agenda and George Bush comparisons as Liberals go negative in their attack ads. Ironic given how Dion criticizes the Conservatives for "spending millions to attack his image and policies" and also not having the maturity to discuss the issues seriously. These type of ads are not surprising when your brand is tainted by the sponsorship scandal and culture of entitlement, your leader is seen as universally weak and your carbon tax platform appeals to nobody. I think Canadians are going to see through these usual attacks this time around. For the record, the quotes from Paul Martin below directly question the Liberal statement that they kept our nation out of Iraq. This ad also makes me question where Liberals stand on Afghanistan, a mission they initially committed Canadian troops to. -Darryl
Quotes from Paul Martin on the Iraq War:
Canada's position was Saddam Hussein should be disarmed. Now, to be quite honest, I had a lot of difficulty understanding how he was going to be disarmed without being replaced.
Ottawa Citizen (April 28, 2003)
I really think Canada should get over to Iraq as quickly as possible. There's a huge need for front-line medical professionals. There's a huge need for policing. And there's a huge need for infrastructure rebuilding.
On sending humanitarian aid to Iraq.
North Bay Nugget (April 30, 2003)
The fact that now we know well that there is proliferation of nuclear weapons and that many of the weapons that Saddam Hussein had, for example, we do not know where they are, so that means the terrorists have access to all that.
Globe and Mail (May 11, 2004)
"I mean if there are going to be missiles that are going off and there are going to be going off over Canadian airspace whether we want it or not, no I don't think that is acceptable. I think that we want to be at the table."
CTV Question Period, April 27, 2003
"I don't think there is any doubt, if there ever was . . . that Saddam Hussein does have weapons of mass destruction. Biological weapons that they discovered were very clear evidence of not only the fact that he had them, but that he had lied and that he is continuing to lie.”
Local Media Coverage of the Campaign in Newmarket-Aurora:
Here is some of the press coverage about what is going on in the riding of Newmarket-Aurora. I also have a few articles for those wondering what Belinda Stronach has been doing during this campaign. For the most part she has been doing a lot of great things outside of politics and is primarily focused on her international and community charitable work. She is also working at Magna - York Region's largest employer and part of the automobile industry that is facing some challenges right now. October 10, this riding will be featured on CBC National as part of the "Your Vote" segment. The debates in this riding are October 6, 7, and 8. Those debates combined with a potential visit by the Prime Minister will likely determine the outcome of the race here. Electionprediction.org is still calling Newmarket-Aurora Conservative with Democratic Space calling it "too close to call". -Darryl
NDP tied with Liberals, Toronto should vote "strategically" Conservative
Stephane Dion and the Liberal Party seem to be falling without any indication of a floor in support. Today's Toronto Star poll now has the NDP and the Liberals tied. They are also reporting that the NDP is surging in cities and that may cut into their former stronghold of Toronto. Gerard Kennedy must be sweating right now in a tight race against Peggy Nash. The Star poll also has Conservatives in majority territory before the English language debate where Harper is expected to do well against Dion as well Layton.
This is not a time to get cocky or to relax our efforts. October 14 is still 18 days away and it is crucial we work hard until this sale is closed. Having said that, this should be good motivation for Conservative and NDP troops while at the same time completely demoralizing for Liberal volunteers. Liberals are trailing in most swing ridings including in Newmarket-Aurora right now.
The longer this campaign goes, the stronger the support for the Conservatives, Greens, NDP and the Bloc it seems. Strategic voting may be tough for the left now as Jack Layton surges. Who do "progressives" unite behind at this point?
I recommend a different kind of strategic voting to avoid getting let down like last time when Liberals abstained from voting 42 times. If I lived in the city of Toronto right now, I would be looking at these numbers and saying a Conservative majority is likely if not probable. Under those circumstances would you not want to have a representative in the government party? Voters in Don Valley West (vote John Carmichael) should especially think long and hard about their vote this time. I have no authority to hand out cabinet posts obviously, however if I was a betting man I would gamble that any Conservative who gets elected in the 416 will go to cabinet. There is no reason to fear a Conservative majority, but if I was a resident of Toronto I might fear a majority government with the entire city of Toronto in oppositon. Anyone heard from Danny Williams lately? I think it is time to consider some blue representation in Toronto. 416 voters could always hold their Conservative MP accountable if they feel Toronto is not getting a fair deal. I guarantee you a Toronto MP in caucus will get more done for cities than a Liberal MP caught in a leadership race and forced to abstain in order to avoid another election they aren't prepared to fight. I don't know who will finish second between Dion's Liberals and Layton's NDP. I do know Harper will be the next Prime Minister unless a major gaffe takes place over the next 18 days. Majority or minority? Rigth now it is too close to call, but GTA residents should consider voting strategically for the Conservatives!
The choice in Newmarket-Aurora is also clear. We need a voice at the table. Lois Brown is that strong voice!
I hope I do not come across as over confident, I just want voters to think about how they cast their vote given these current poll numbers. The GTA is important to this country and there are several issues around the 905 and in the city that the government needs to address. For current Conservative supporters, please do not look at these polls and come to the conclusion that your vote is not needed. We need every vote we can get in Newmarket-Aurora and throughout the GTA. I hope we get at least one seat in Toronto proper as well this time. Keep working hard!!!!!
Highlights from Last night's Obama vs. McCain debate
If there was any parts that will be remembered from last night's debate, I think it will be these portions:
At the end of the day I think both candidates performed well. I am looking forward to the VP debates (even though I will be watching the Canadian ones first) as well as the next debate between the two presidential candidates. The economy is now far and away the biggest issue in both the American and Canadian campaigns. I look forward to debates on those issues. -Darryl
Some of us were focused on the Canadian campaign, but if you missed the American debates last night here is the full version available via YouTube. Personally I thought it was a draw. To be honest that is not good for McCain as foreign policy is suppose to be his advantage. He is also trailing Obama again following some gaffes from Sarah Palin during her first media interviews. -Darryl
What is the Liberal Hidden Agenda? Conference call leaked...
Not sure who is responsible for these ads, but I think they are important. An internal conference call regarding the Liberal platform was leaked to several Conservative blogs. The transcripts have resulted in the following ads not associated with the Conservative Party officially. I first saw them posted on Stephen Taylor's blog. -Darryl
After a successful first week on the campaign trail, week 2 followed up nicely for us. Over the past two weeks we had some great weekend events that allowed us to begin focusing on the canvassing efforts where we will identify the vote and later do everything we can to get it out on election day. Lois Brown has been working steady for over two years knocking on doors. As a priority riding, national party has been very supportive by calling into the riding and confirming sign locations, recruiting volunteers and identifying support. Right now we have identified thousands of supporters, secured well over a thousand lawn sign requests and have a strong volunteer base to take us forward in the campaign. Those efforts are appreciated and could very well make the difference in this close riding.
-A clear win in the sign war. We will now refocus our efforts on canvassing while maintaining our advantage and continuing to field sign requests.
-I had a fun debate on John Taylor's new show on Rogers 10 against Chris Emanuel and Ed Chudak. Stephen Somerville also did a great job representing the Conservatives the following night.
-Finally computers are now in our office allowing us to fully utilize our CIMS database, the internet and modern technology.
-Wednesday at Coras - we had a volunteer rally and signed up several new volunteers to get involved. Many of those new volunteers are already playing large roles in our campaign.
-On Saturday we opened our Aurora headquarters on Yonge St. where Frank Klees, several municipal politicians, and Justice Minister Rob Nicholson showed up along with 200 supporters. The location is great from a visibility perspective and also gives us representation in both Newmarket and Aurora. In Newmarket we are located on the corner of Muluck and Bayview.
-Further modifications were being made to www.loisbrown.ca and we also launched a new way to communicate with our constituents through a site called www.askloisbrown.ca. Our online efforts continue through our use of email marketing, the internet, blogging and Facebook.
-Lois continues to attend community events going on in the riding. She participated in the Terry Fox Run and also the Heart and Stroke Foundation walk these past two weekends.
-Our first literature piece went out and should arrive in people's mail boxes over the next few days.
-Electionprediction.org is now calling Newmarket-Aurora for the Conservative Party! Democraticspace.com was calling this riding Conservative but has now placed it back in the "too close to call" column. Our own polling is consistent with these results.
-Nationally we picked up a 16 point lead over the Liberals. If these numbers continue, Newmarket-Aurora will be the first in the GTA to change colours. We want to be part of the trend moving blue support to the South and around the 416. Things are encouraging in Halton, Missisauga and other crucial 905 ridings. Don Valley West within the 416 remains "too close to call". I am hearing Gerard Kennedy and Justin Trudeau are in tough fights within their own ridings. Hopefully we can remain disciplined and allow the momentum to pick up going into the leadership debates where Harper is likely to show well in contrast to Mr. Dion.
-Local debates are set for October 6, 8 with Cardinal Carter high school and Rogers also doing debates in the first part of October. Debate prep continues.
-For those who were filmed for the CBC, my segment during the National will air on October 10, four days before the election. It should be some good national exposure for this crucial swing riding of Newmarket-Aurora.
-Our volunteer base remains committed and motivated to achieve victory. We fully expect our supporters will show up and vote, but turnout could be low overall on voting day.
As always we need to keep the pressure on. This is not the time to let up. We need to go hard right until October 14 to win this riding locally and to build on our minority government nationally. Please do not let the polls deter you from giving some extra time to the campaign. Like every campaign, we could always use more volunteers and money. Now is the time we need you more than ever! There are only 22 days (just over 3 weeks) left in this campaign! We are going to do all we can to make sure Lois Brown is elected to Ottawa and do our part to contribute to any gains the federal Conservatives make in this election campaign. I wish all readers the best of luck in their own local campaigns! -Darryl
Newmarket-Aurora debates set for Oct 6 and Oct 8; Prentice comes to riding
The Aurora Chamber of Commerce will hold it's all candidates debate on October 6 from 7-9 at Theatre Aurora. The Newmarket Chamber of Commerce will hold it's all candidates debate on October 8 from 7-9 at the Newmarket Theatre. Rogers Television will also hold a debate that will play periodically and be available "on demand" on local Rogers Channel 10 with John Taylor as moderator.
Industry Minister Jim Prentice also made a stop to our riding to talk about the economy. Local coverage from the Era Banner can be found here. His visit was followed up by Justice Minister Rob Nicholson who helped us open our Aurora campaign headquarters yesterday. Other ministers including Jim Flaherty, Stockwell Day, Peter Van Loan, Vic Toews, Gordon O'Connor and Health Minister Tony Clement have been to Newmarket-Aurora previously. I expect more to come soon as there is no doubt that Newmarket-Aurora is a targeted riding by the Conservative Party nationally. -Darryl
Electionprediction.org moves Newmarket-Aurora from "too close to call" to Conservative
Electionprediction.org is now calling this riding for the Conservative Party. This is huge because in the past this site has been very accurate (95%+). This is early to make this call and is likely a reflection of the national numbers and trends in the region. As volunteers though, we must continue to campaign like we are behind as it will still be a very close race. Don't let up Newmarket-Aurora! Having said that, this is encouraging news for the party and for Lois Brown with only a few weeks left to go in this campaign.
Democratic Space is currently projecting the following seat count: CPC 150 Liberal: 86 NDP: 30 Green: 0 BQ: 40
On that site, Newmarket-Aurora has moved back to "question mark" after being previously called Conservative.
A new poll from the CBC today has the Conservative Party with a 16 point lead over the Liberals. Clearly momentum is still with Harper (as well as May/Layton) as October 14 is coming very quickly.
Is John Tory taking Paul Godfrey's job with the Blue Jays? That rumour has been going around for weeks, but yesterday Bill Murdoch who was just tossed from the PC caucus mentioned it in media interviews. From the Blue Jay perspective, there is no doubt that J.P. Ricciardi could be gone at the end of the season. If Paul Godfrey were to leave as President and CEO, would Ted Rogers call on his former CEO and former CFL commissioner to run his baseball franchise and perhaps headup the pitch for an NFL team in Toronto? I really like John Tory and think he should remain leader of the PC Party. Hopefully this rumour isn't true, but it seems to be gaining steam lately. Hopefully the issue relating to John Tory's leadership and potential seat in the legislature clears up before the end of the year.
Quotes from Murdoch:
"John should look at other options," Mr. Murdoch added. "If it's true that the Blue Jays have offered him a job, he should probably seriously think about it.""This puts a nail in his coffin," Mr. Murdoch said Thursday. "John is smart and about the hardest working person I've ever seen, but he's not a politician. To me, his political life's over. He'll have a great life as the president of the Blue Jays if he takes that job. Or whatever other private sector job he takes, he'll do well."
I guess we will see what happens over the next few weeks. On a side note; I think the hiring of Cito Gaston turned out to be huge for the Jays. I look forward to seeing what he does with the team through a full season next year.
-Darryl
Maverick MPP turfed
Ontario Conservatives eject Murdoch from caucus
Lee Greenberg, Ottawa Citizen
Published: Thursday, September 18, 2008
TORONTO - Ontario Conservatives ejected their most outspoken member from caucus on Thursday, turfing rural MPP Bill Murdoch for voicing his displeasure with the party's seatless leader, John Tory. Mr. Murdoch last week said Mr. Tory should look for another job, complaining about his lack of progress getting elected to the legislature. The repeated shots were too much to take, Mr. Tory said Thursday, adding not many bosses in other professions would tolerate employees who "publicly dump(ed)" on them repeatedly. "I am the democratically elected leader of this party," he told reporters. "And I think it's not unreasonable to expect we're going to have the support of this caucus."
But Mr. Murdoch says it was his democratic right to speak freely about the party's problems. "I never expected it to go this far," he said Thursday. "I expected Tory would say, like Mike Harris would have said, 'well, that's Murdoch and I'll deal with him.' And I actually even told him that. He wouldn't stop long enough to listen to me, as usual. John likes to talk and not listen." Mr. Tory's support appeared to be waning ahead of a meeting last week to discuss his lagging bid to find a seat in the legislature. Some feel a pledge to win a seat by this fall is now in doubt. Mr. Murdoch, as has often been the case, was the lone Conservative caucus member to publicly voice his displeasure with his boss. "I've basically given up on (John Tory)," he said, saying what several others would only say in private.
"John should look at other options," Mr. Murdoch added. "If it's true that the Blue Jays have offered him a job, he should probably seriously think about it."
He was suspended from caucus last week and was asked to back off those comments. But Mr. Murdoch refused to submit to caucus discipline. "This isn't like team sports," he said. "This is a democracy." Mr. Murdoch, a farmer who once kept a pet donkey, said Mr. Tory wanted to show he was "a tough guy" by kicking him out of caucus. He figures the decision will backfire among caucus, many of whom backed Mr. Murdoch last week.
"This puts a nail in his coffin," Mr. Murdoch said Thursday. "John is smart and about the hardest working person I've ever seen, but he's not a politician. To me, his political life's over. He'll have a great life as the president of the Blue Jays if he takes that job. Or whatever other private sector job he takes, he'll do well."
Mr. Murdoch, the MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, has a long history of speaking his mind. He declared his party was "in tatters" after the 2003 election, when Conservatives dropped from a 59-seat majority to just 24 seats. "We're $8 million in debt, we don't have a leader. It's just sort of hit and miss," he said at the time. He also mulled joining the NDP when the left-wing party dropped to seven seats, one below the threshold for official party status. At one point, he had a pet donkey. In 2003 he refused to attend caucus meetings because MPP Tim Hudak, a man for whom he had "no respect whatsoever," was elected caucus chair. The decision to expel Mr. Murdoch was relayed to him Thursday in a letter by veteran MPP Bob Runciman, the party's interim leader in the legislature. "We've been through a lot of ups and downs together," Mr. Runciman said. "It's really unfortunate that it's come to this. But Billy made his own bed and he has to lie in it." Mr. Murdoch will sit as an independent when the Queen's Park assembly resumes Monday. "No doubt, it's a challenging time for us now" Mr. Runciman said, referring to his party's difficulties connecting with voters. "I think to get through this we have to pull together, we have to be rowing in the same direction. And Bill opted to do otherwise."
With the Toronto Blue Jays sitting once again on the brink of playoff elimination, the rumblings in the front office are starting to overshadow the play on the field. Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey joined Michael Landsberg on TSN's Off the Record Wednesday to discuss his future with the team and the future of general manager J.P. Ricciardi. There has been speculation that Godfrey would step away from the team at the end of the year, something he acknowledged, but would not confirm. "My contract comes up at the end of the year," Godfrey said. "I have to discuss it with my family and we will decide then. I haven't made up my mind whether I'm going to leave." Godfrey is not the only member of the Blue Jays front office whose future is in question. After seven years at the helm, and no playoff appearances, speculation has been rampant that Ricciardi could also be moving on. A report Wednesday suggested that Ricciardi will return for another year. While the team has not announced anything official, the Toronto Star suggests that Cito Gaston's return next year, something Ricciardi himself announced back in August, indicates that the GM will remain in place. The newspaper argues that any new GM would want to hire his own manager, and not be saddled with an existing one. Godfrey, once again, reiterated his support for Ricciardi and commended what he has accomplished. "I've always been a supporter of J.P. Ricciardi's and I continue to be a supporter of J.P. Ricciardi's," Godfrey said. "The fact is this, I've said all along, you make decisions based on the year as a whole. Are we a playoff contender? Obviously not. "[But] when J.P. took over, the organization had a number of over-paid, under-achievers on the club. You take a snapshot of what we have now, it is appreciably better. What he's done in the major leagues, what he's done in the minor leagues, how he's built the farm system." However, Godfrey did acknowledge that the decision on Ricciardi's future may not be up to him. "If I do stay, it will be my call. If I don't stay, I think it's up to somebody else." Godfrey also vehemently denied that he pushed for Gaston to replace former manager John Gibbons and not Ricciardi. "It was a mutual discussion. I spoke to J.P. about a possible change. He came back with the name 'Cito Gaston' immediately. I think it's an unfair shot at J.P." While Godfrey remains loyal to his general manager, the threat of major front office moves loom over the franchise. The Blue Jays have responded well under Gaston and although they made a late push for a playoff spot, it now seems almost certain they will once again miss their chance at playing baseball in October. To complicate matters they have been hit by the injury bug again. Tuesday's starter Shaun Marcum left the game in the third inning after feeling discomfort in his forearm and numbness in the pinkie finger of his right arm. Catcher Rod Barajas is also hurting due to a sore left hamstring. They are both scheduled to have MRIs on Thursday. In 2009 the team will once again try to find a way to survive in Major League Baseball's most competitive division. With the New York Yankees opening a new stadium and already planning to make a splash in the free agent market, plus the improved Tamps Bay Rays and always dangerous Red Sox, a slow start to next season could be disastrous. Whoever ends up in the GM chair for the Jays will have a significant challenge ahead of them. http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=249801 ***
Jays president Godfrey uncertain about returning
TORONTO (AP) — Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey said Wednesday that he hasn't decided whether to seek a new contract when his current deal expires at the end of 2008, but supports retaining general manager J.P. Ricciardi and manager Cito Gaston in 2009.
A former newspaper publisher and municipal politician, Godfrey was named president of the Blue Jays on Sept. 1, 2000, when Rogers Communications became majority owner. His contract expires Dec. 31, but Godfrey expects to make a decision on his future sooner than that.
"Two or three weeks after the season ends we'll be coming to some conclusions," Godfrey said.
Whether he wants to come back is still up in the air.
"I haven't decided that yet," Godfrey said. "My contract expires at the end of '08 and I've not made any comment on that. I have some important matters to discuss with my family and I've said that consistently. At the same time, I've got to discuss that not only with my family, but the ownership at that point in time."
Godfrey said he has authorized Ricciardi to discuss a new deal for Gaston, who replaced John Gibbons as Blue Jays manager on June 20.
"I've spoken to him about negotiating a contract with Cito going forward," Godfrey said. "I've been a big supporter of J.P., I'm the guy who hired J.P."
Ricciardi, who has two years remaining on his contract, said in early August that he intended to bring Gaston back next season. Formal negotiations have not yet begun, but the men expect to meet this week and Ricciardi said a deal will likely be completed "before the end of the season."
"Cito will be here next year," Ricciardi said. "We'll take care of that."
An announcement on the future of Toronto's coaching staff is expected at the same time. It's not clear whether Gaston intends to retain the three coaches he inherited when he took over, pitching coach Brad Arnsberg, bench coach Brian Butterfield and bullpen coach Bruce Walton.
"I'd like to have them back, I've told them that," Gaston said. "It's still up to them. The guys that are here have done a good job, so I can't see any reason why it would be any different. But you never know, maybe some of them choose not to come back."
Toronto has gone 45-32 since Gaston took over.
"I'm proud, but still think we could have done better," Gaston said.
This is good news for Canada and great work by Fortier/Emerson and Stephen Harper. I look forward to the conference on October 17. This has potential to be huge for the Canadian and European economies. I am very happy with the Conservative government's approach to free trade agreements. -Darryl
Canada-EU trade proposal rivals scope of NAFTA
Plan to lift barriers for goods and labour to be discussed at summit after election
DOUG SAUNDERS
From Thursday's Globe and Mail
September 18, 2008 at 2:00 AM EDT
LONDON — Canadian and European officials say they plan to begin negotiating a massive agreement to integrate Canada's economy with the 27 nations of the European Union, with preliminary talks to be launched at an Oct. 17 summit in Montreal three days after the federal election.
Trade Minister Michael Fortier and his staff have been engaged for the past two months with EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and the representatives of European governments in an effort to begin what a senior EU official involved in the talks described in an interview yesterday as “deep economic integration negotiations.”
If successful, Canada would be the first developed nation to have open trade relations with the EU, which has completely open borders between its members but imposes steep trade and investment barriers on outsiders.
The proposed pact would far exceed the scope of older agreements such as NAFTA by encompassing not only unrestricted trade in goods, services and investment and the removal of tariffs, but also the free movement of skilled people and an open market in government services and procurement – which would require that Canadian governments allow European companies to bid as equals on government contracts for both goods and services and end the favouring of local or national providers of public-sector services.
Previous efforts to reach a trade pact with Europe have failed, most recently in 2005 with the collapse of the proposed Trade and Investment Enhancement Agreement.
But with the breakdown of World Trade Organization talks in July, European officials have become much more interested in opening a bilateral trade and economic integration deal with North America.
A pact with the United States would be politically impossible in Europe, senior European Commission officials said.
A newly completed study of the proposed deal, which European officials said Prime Minister Stephen Harper decided not to release until after the election, concludes that the pact would increase bilateral trade and investment by at least $40-billion a year, mainly in trade in services.
Ottawa officials say they have overcome what they see as their biggest hurdle: the resistance of provincial governments to an agreement that would force them to allow European corporations to provide their government services, if their bids are the lowest.
Although Ottawa's current list of foreign-policy priorities does not include European issues, European and Canadian officials say Mr. Harper has been heavily engaged with the proposed trade pact.
The two governments have completed a detailed study of the proposed agreement that will be unveiled shortly after the election, should the Conservatives win.
Both Ottawa and Brussels have had staff work on a draft text for a deal they had hoped would be introduced at a Canada-EU summit, to be attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Mr. Harper in Montreal on Oct. 17. France currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, and Mr. Sarkozy has said that he hopes to make economic integration with Canada one of his accomplishments.
Last Wednesday, a top Ottawa trade official wrote to Mr. Mandelson to propose “the launch of comprehensive negotiations toward a closer economic partnership at the Canada-EU Leaders Summit, to be held on October 17,” and stressed that all 13 provincial and territorial governments had agreed to the proposed pact at a July 18 meeting in Quebec City.
Because of the election, Mr. Harper appears to have decided not to unveil a full text of the proposed agreement, but instead to use the summit to inaugurate the trade talks with the launch of a “scoping exercise” that will quickly set the goals of the pact and lead to formal “comprehensive trade and investment negotiations” to begin in “early 2009,” according to communications between senior Canadian and European officials examined by The Globe and Mail.
Proponents, including all of Canada's major business-lobby organizations, are in favour of the deal because it would open Canadian exporters to a market of 500 million people and allow the world's largest pool of investment capital into Canadian companies without restrictions.
Because Canada's fractious provinces have killed attempts at a trade pact in the past, Europe is demanding that Canada accept a more far-reaching agreement than Canada and Europe had attempted before, in an effort to win a stronger commitment, EU officials said.
Major “deal-breaker” conditions, officials said, include full agreement by all 10 provinces, especially on the issue of European companies providing government services, and what are known as “geographic indicators,” which forbid products such as champagne and feta cheese to be produced under those names outside their nations of origin. Controversially for Canada, this may soon be extended so only English producers can use the name cheddar on their cheese.
However, both sides agree that there is far more political will to negotiate a major deal, on both sides than there ever has been.
“I am far more optimistic this time than I've ever been in the past. … I feel very confident that we will be able to launch something on Oct. 17 that will give us a better chance than we've ever had before to get a full deal in place,” said Roy MacLaren, head of the Canada-Europe Round Table, a pro-trade business organization that has been heavily involved in the negotiations.
New Conservative Ad: "Soft on crime does not work"
Speaking of soft on crime, stories like the ones below really anger me. It is time to get tough on these type of crimes as well. 100 hours of community service and a restriction on owning an animal for 2 years is no where near justice for these families and their animals. -Darryl
Darryl on Focal Point with John Taylor tonight at 8pm on Rogers Television
Looking forward to a great debate on Mr. Taylor's new show. The show is live tonight at 8pm and allows people to call in live. We will be talking about the federal election with a York Region perspective. -Darryl
Focal Point with John Taylor
Local Issues... Tough Questions... Great Debate
Tune in to this brand new show on Rogers TV
Tuesdays and Wednesdays live at 8pm
Leading up to the Federal Election, the show’s focus is the issues that matter
to you… join the discussion… call in and ask your question….
Democratic Space is projecting Newmarket-Aurora going Conservative
This is great news but we cannot let up. We must work very hard until October 14 and not make any mistakes. Victory is in sight and achievable if we work for it. The national blue tide is sweeping Newmarket-Aurora and many other ridings across the nation. Electionprediction.org still has us at too close to call. Both have 90% accuracy records. -Darryl
The campaign federally has gone well despite a few bumps early on. Polls show a gain in momentum for the Conservative Party and that is because Stephen Harper has played to his strengths, ran on his record and used the strong party organization to his advantage early in this campaign. There are three major issues right now. Leadership, the economy and the carbon tax. Harper is on the right side of all of those issues and it seems the Liberal campaign is falling apart under Dion's leadership. Right now a lot of Liberals are talking about who will be the next leader of the party and this has become the focus in the media. As polls increase, seats in Northern Ontario, the GTA, Quebec, B.C. and elsewhere become winnable. Newmarket-Aurora is of course one of those seats. The NDP is gaining strength. They are polling even with the Liberals and challenging for official opposition status. The Greens have had a good week. They are now in the debates and the media is giving them equal coverage to the other parties. They are seen as mainstream and are running in 307 ridings. Together the left is split with Harper taking more and more from the middle of the spectrum. Harper has had a great week as he is opening up a major lead in popular vote, leadership and on the majority of issues according to polls in the media. He is relaxed and showing his personal side more on the campaign trail. He is seen as a steady hand while everyone else seems like a risky option. It is looking like a majority or minority government is almost certain at this point unless we defeat ourselves in the next 30 days. As Harper and the Conservative Party continue to do well nationally, the better our chances to take back this riding federally with the same vote that elected Frank Klees here provincially in October 2007. Thanksgiving weekend is coming fast and Dion and the Liberals have a lot of ground to make up in a 5 week period of time.
The Toronto Star had this to say about the race in Newmarket-Aurora as one of it's Ontario ridings to watch:
In Newmarket-Aurora we have had a great week. Our sign team has been committed since teh writ was dropped and today was no different. We have over a thousand residential sign locations in the riding and in my home town Newmarket looks like Alberta right now outnumbering the Liberals 20-1 in signs on people's homes. Aurora is about 10-1 in residential properties and the entire riding is at least 3-1 in public large sign locations. The blue stakes have also had a nice impact. This was all possible because of a large team of volunteers who are working tirelessly giving up their weekends, evenings or days to get Lois and the Conservative Party elected. It is also because requests are coming in like crazy demonstrating popular support among regular voters. Signs are not necessarily a reflection of voting intentions but it does say something about our campaign and what is happening with popular opinion within Newmarket-Aurora.
Last night we had a successful fundraiser with our Annual Founders Dinner. Jim Prentice spoke at the event and took the time to knock on doors with Lois Brown earlier in the day. Jim Prentice is one of the strongest ministers within the Harper caucus currently the Minister of Industry. His talk was important given the economy is the number one issue in Newmarket-Aurora like anywhere else. Our campaign budget is on track and we are seeing several donations coming in every day. We want to run the best campaign possible and we appreciate those that have supported this campaign in the past and those that came out last night. Unions and corporations can no longer donate money to political parties. The Conservative Party and its local riding associations have always thrived on small donations from large volumes of people. We are in a relatively good position but could always use more. It costs roughly $90,000 to run a local campaign if you want to spend the maximum.
For almost two years, Lois has been out knocking on doors and attending community events. This has not changed during the campaign and she has been working hard to earn votes every day. Lois is like the Energizer bunny and that motivates us because we know how hard she will work for the people of Newmarket and Aurora should she be fortunate enough to go to Ottawa. She has been open and friendly with the media as you will see on the CBC and have already seen in the local media. “I’ll be more media friendly. That was something I was not relaxed with and it showed through. I know I need to be forthcoming,” Lois was quoted in the Era Banner this week. Lois also launched her website http://www.loisbrown.ca this week and her Facebook group got 10 new members today surpassing the Tim Jones group. The official campaign launch and the opening of our second office in Aurora is coming soon. Our weekend canvass and sign blitzes are going well. New volunteers are coming in every day while are strong base and experienced veterans are engaged and motivated.
On Wednesday we started preparation for the debates and from what I saw, Lois has come a long way from the 2006 campaign. She is very prepared on policy and will be ready as the Newmarket, Aurora and Rogers televisions debates take place in the weeks ahead. Lois was very impressive on Wednesday night and we threw everything at her making it as tough as possible so that she could be properly prepared for whatever questions come up from the real debates and the partisan planted audience representing all sides. Lois is the only female in this contest as we now know Mike Seaward is going to be representing the NDP. Glenn Hubbers is the Green Party candidate, Tim Jones is the Liberal candidate and Dorian Baxter will be in this race representing the Progressive Canadian Party. There will likely be a few other fringe candidates who jump into the race as well.
As part of my assignment with the CBC, I can also tell you that momentum is moving throughout York Region. North of me in York Simcoe, Peter Van Loan is in a very strong position to be re-elected in what is considered by most as a safe Conservative riding. He is a major player in cabinet and has done a good job of representing his constituents. Newmarket-Aurora, Oakridge- Markham and Thornhill could go either way depending on how the rest of this race shapes up. I attended Peter Kent's campaign launch and was impressed with their large base of volunteers and how well received his speech was. If he gets elected he will be a huge asset to York Region and the Conservative caucus. Stephen Harper has spent a lot of time in the GTA in the last few weeks and I believe it is having an impact in those crucial 905 area ridings around Toronto.
Right now I feel very fortunate to volunteer along side an experienced campaign team for a candidate, leader and party we all feel enthusiastic and motivated to support. Get out the vote, media relations and the debates will be crucial along with the remainder of the national campaign over the next 30 days. After week one though, we are off to a good start. So far it has been a very fun campaign to play a role in. I have got confidence we are on the right track to getting Lois elected MP for Newmarket-Aurora. -Darryl
Williams threatening Conservative supporters in Newfoundland?
It is time for Danny Williams to check his ego and desire for the spotlight at the door. This man is putting a personal feud ahead of the interests of his province. The carbon tax will bring Newfoundland back to have not status. The situation Williams is creating is not good for future relations between the likely Prime Minister and Premier of Newfoundland. He might be hurting Conservatives in Newfoundland but in the rest of the country he has zero credibility. This story is extremely disturbing and not consistent with democracy. I think Williams is causing his province far more harm than good right now. -Darryl
I am trying not to post too many of these polls because it is not worth getting too excited or down as they come in. At this point we need to run a disciplined campaign right until October 14. There is no room for mistakes and as we have seen in the past, it is the last week that really matters and the biggest poll of all is on the election day. Having said that, on this one I couldn't resist. Quickly this is becoming a race for second place. The carbon tax has fallen flat and Dion has proven to be a major mistake and disaster as leader. The verdict is still out on if this will be a majority or minority, but a new story is developing...the race for leader of the opposition. Jack Obama, I mean Layton is pulling even with the Liberals and Stephane Dion. Could the NDP form the official opposition? Will this vote split result in Conservative wins in some key areas? Jack Layton has consistently polled better than Dion on leadership numbers. At this point anything is possible but it is obvious that the Liberal vote is quickly collapsing. By the way this poll doesn't come from the National Post...it comes from the Toronto Star the most Liberal friendly paper in the country. I suspect Jack Layton might gain some more ground from Dion in the national debates when he has the opportunity to hold the Liberal party to account for sitting on their hands during confidence votes in the last election. Toronto area ridings should think long and hard about how they vote this time. -Darryl
Grits, NDP pulling even?
Richard Brennan OTTAWA BUREAU The polls are starting to reveal a new race this federal election – for second place.
The strength of NDP Leader Jack Layton leadership numbers seem to be pulling the party up while Liberal Leader Stephane Dion’s seemed to be dragging his party down.
An Angus Reid/Toronto Star poll published today put the Conservatives at 39 per cent, the Liberals, 23 per cent and the New Democrats, 18 per cent.
And according the latest numbers from Angus Reid, 32 per cent of Canadians believe that Conservative Leader Stephen Harper would make the best prime minister, 23 per cent for Layton and 15 per cent for Dion.
Could Layton be the leader of Her Majesty’s loyal opposition?
Behind the scenes the New Democrats are giddy with the thought of beating the Liberal out for second spot for the first time, but publicly Layton keeps on the same message that he’s running to replace Harper.
“I am interested in offering Canadians a choice for prime minister,” he told reporters.
“Let me tell you my friends, something is happening out there,” Layton told a lively rally at the CNE yesterday with almost 500 of the party faithful cheering on the mustachioed leader.
“The choice in this election is crystal clear. Stephen Harper of Jack Layton.”
Layton concedes that the Liberal Party's demise and voters’ apprehension with Harper’s government is a winning combination that could cast the New Democratic Party as a legitimate alternative to the old guard this time around.
If anyone saw the show last night, feedback is always appreciated. Also if there is anything you would like to see me film as part of our campaign in Newmarket-Aurora; please don't hesitate to make a suggestion in the comment section. This "Your Vote" segment will air every Friday on the national with my segment on October 10, just four days before the election. -Darryl
Important ad with an international and economic focus. I strongly support free trade agreements and think the Harper government is on the right track with what they have attempted to negotiate thus far. -Darryl
First he said he would cancel it, now he will double it. First he was against the carbon tax now he is for one. Where does Dion really stand on the issues? -Darryl
I do not mind the Greens being in the debates. She is going to attack the Conservatives but ultimately will split the vote on the left even further. Dion, Layton, May and in Quebec Duceppe all seem to be going after the same voters. All have similar platforms. I think Harper and the Conservatives are well positioned on the right and among the moderate middle. I congratulate the Green Party for getting in the debates because I think it is good for democracy. I look forward to Elizabeth May explaining her deal with Dion and perhaps pushing new Green Party ideas as oppose to simply endorsing the Liberal platform. Hopefully the campaigns and media can stop focusing on the leaders debates, puffins and other distractions that take away from the serious issues facing our country today. I think Stephen Harper is on the right track making announcements such as the one today on Afghanistan and talking about issues like foreign affairs, the economy, the carbon tax, crime and other kitchen table concerns. He is appealing to a broad base right now and has found confidence, humour and the ability to relax in his initial campaigning. He is coming across as an average Canadian family man as oppose to the opposition who are trying to find out what they stand for and seem to be running their campaigns in reaction mode. It is early, but I think the first four days were won by the Conservative Party. -Darryl
We are now into the fourth day of the campaign and as I walked into the office tonight I was quickly reminded that there are only 35 days left to voting day. Lawn sign requests are coming in like crazy and our sign team is working very hard to fulfill them as quick as possible. Global TV was in our office yesterday interviewing Lois Brown. She stayed very positive and on message. The national campaign is going well and has been very supportive of our efforts locally thus far. Today we launched a new website at http://www.loisbrown.ca and I think it looks great. As always Lois has been out knocking on doors. After two years I think she is pretty close to hitting every door in Newmarket and Aurora. We are very lucky to have a candidate who works so hard. Lois deserves to be our MP and we are going to work very hard to make sure that happens.
Today Stephen Harper was speaking in the riding of Eglinton-Lawrence near Yorkdale mall. The event was very well attended and I thought Harper's message was very strong on the economy and foreign affairs. It looks like we are starting to see progress in the GTA finally. I give full credit to Kara Johnson and Karma Macgregor who work tirelessly to organize events like these while at the same time providing excellent support to our local riding association and campaign teams.
After four days I think things are looking good for us both locally and nationally. Of course we can not allow the polls to reduce our efforts. We have to run this race on all cylinders right up until polls close on October 14. -Darryl
As part of the CBC election coverage, I have been invited to participate on the National in a segment called "Your Vote". The basic concept is that 4 young grassroots volunteers from different ridings will be given CBC cameras to cover their activities during the election. The segments start Friday night during the National. I recorded an introduction and was at CBC headquarters yesterday for training and to iron out the final parameters of the show. I had the opportunity to see the operation that goes into the National and I was very impressed. The panel is made up of strong volunteers with good representation from all parties. I will be covering Newmarket-Aurora and York Region in general. I started my work today filming at the Stephen Harper event in Toronto today. There will also be video on the CBC website at www.cbc.ca/canadavotes I appreciate the opportunity that was presented to me by the CBC and I am going to work very hard to make sure the blue team is represented well on the program. The Green, NDP and Liberal volunteers will be working in Toronto ridings. Hopefully the show will be interesting and provide us in Newmarket-Aurora with good exposure for our candidate and campaign. My full segment airs October 10 just before the election and is the last of the four representatives. -Darryl
One of the things that really appeals to me about Reuters Voices without Votes is the opportunity to interact with bloggers from all over the world. One blog that I would encourage people to visit to get a Pakistani perspective on international affairs would be http://www.pakspectator.com. Below is an interview I did with them last week. This site has interviews with bloggers from all over the world and it is an honor to be included. -Darryl
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Would you please tell us something about you and your site?
I started my blog in 2006 as a way to post articles, write opinions and create a conversation with others interested in political opinions. My blog focuses on local issues relevant to Newmarket and also discusses issues important to people in Ontario, Canada and internationally. I do it as a hobby and have enjoyed it thus far.
Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?
Absolutely. As you gain life experience, learn additional facts and consider the perspectives of others; there is no doubt my writing grows and continues to improve. It is important to me because I try and be the best I can be with my website. The more I learn about the world, the better my chances of changing it in a positive way.
I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?
It is always exciting when you look at your stat counter and see all the world’s nations visit my website. I also get excited when people in the media and in government visit. I enjoy the regular readers who take the time to comment on my posts. I really enjoy opportunities such as the one offered to me in this interview with TPS. I appreciate the platform to share my views in a peaceful and interactive way.
What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?
I try and visit many blogs with wide ranging opinions and various geographical locations. I enjoy commenting on others people’s blogs if they write about topics that are of interest to me. I have developed several friendships with others bloggers outside of the virtual world of the internet.
What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?
YouTube. That site has unlimited potential for political purposes. The United States has really jumped on the popularity of the site. Canada has been slower but that has potential to change in this upcoming election. Facebook is also a cool social networking site that has great potential to bring together people for political purposes. Ultimately the blogs are going to have the biggest impact as they offer the grass roots voter a real chance to express their opinions while at the same time shaking up the mainstream media. In Canadian elections are use of CIMS (data management system) with the Conservative Party and are local use of email marketing have taken our political campaigns to a whole new level. I suspect technology will continue to improve. I think the internet has been great for global relations. In seconds we know what is going on in every part of the world and the potential is unlimited for international conversations such as this one.
Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?
I think they make it a lot easier to get informed politically and also offer an opportunity to have their voice heard as a voter. I think at the end of the day it is up to the people to realize the sacrifices made for their freedom, take the time to get informed and cast a vote so that they can have a say in the decisions that will impact many aspects of individual lives and their standards of living.
What do you think sets Your site apart from others?
I am just another person expressing my views online. I consider myself no different than anyone else who takes the time to blog and would encourage as many others to do the same. Perhaps Canadian and international readers appreciate my interest in foreign affairs and my goal to be not partisan but principled. I try and separate personal attacks from legitimate political criticism. I try and be myself and enjoy feedback from others. I try and get people to think about their views and consider multiple points of view. I try and update as frequently as possible and do not moderate my posts to ensure free speech. The blog is an extension of my personality and life experiences and perhaps that is what makes it unique as would be true for others. Blogging is about grassroots activism and that is important to me.
If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?
Worth ethic. If you have a goal in life you have to plan and work hard to achieve it.
What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life? Happiest day was probably the day I graduated from the University of Windsor (I am not married and do not have children yet). Gloomiest moment was when I lost my friend and the person who got me into politics Lindsay Mason last year.
If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?
Italy - my father was born there Turks and Caicos - tropical paradise and I could use a vacation Madagascar - because of the unique wildlife and because I have always wanted to see Africa
What is your favorite book and why?
“Hegemony or Survival” by Noam Chomsky. It was so different than all the other books I have read on American foreign policy. It provides a lot of context for the international challenges that the West is currently facing. The “Rise of the Rest” by Fareed Zakaria is also a great read. That is the best book I have read recently and has an important message. If you are interested in the US Election, I don’t think you will be disappointed with Barack Obama’s “Audacity of Hope”.
What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
Usually eye contact. You can tell a lot about a person by looking into their eyes.
Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write? I wrote as a hobby from a young age. Before I wrote about politics, I reported on inside wrestling news. My email subscription list reached 250,000 and I was getting a million hits a week on my site. I owe a lot to my teachers, especially my father who is an English high school teacher. No one has ever told me I couldn’t write, however a few people are not shy about pointing out grammar and spelling mistakes from time to time.
How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
Some run ads. Others get jobs in the media or elsewhere. Personally I am not blogging for financial reasons. I just do it because I am passionate about politics and enjoying engaging others who share my passion.
Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands? I am president of the Newmarket Rotary club, vice-president of the Newmarket-Aurora Conservative Riding Association, a director on the local provincial PC Party Association, member of the North Newmarket Lions Club, member of the Newmarket Heritage Committee and hold a full time job as a public affairs consultant. I am active with several local charities and participate in many events. I also maintain a social life. I think some bloggers may have a lot of time on their hands, others make time for the hobby they love.
What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile? Engage in discussions with bloggers from other nations and cultures. Try and come to an understanding and appreciation for the issues that unite us, not those that divide us. Fight for causes like peace, human rights, individual freedoms, individual rights, democracy, prosperity and the rule of law.
Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?
Anything about animal cruelty tends to generate a lot of emotion and comments from readers. Elections and major events also spike traffic and generate strong reactions.
What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?
In Canada we have a large Pakistani population and a few of my friends were born or have lived there in the past. I think the people are great and I think the nation has potential to be a leader in the region and a strong example for other Muslim nations. I support the Pakistani people and their quest for democracy. I support the struggle against extremism and efforts to improve the economy. Canada and NATO has a lot of troops in Afghanistan. We need Pakistan to continue as a partner and help us secure the borders where Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters cross in order to bring peace and stability to the Afghani people. I would also like to see a resolution with Kasmir and one day real peace between India and Pakistan. Personally I was sad to see the tragedy involving Benazir Bhutto and wish the Pakistani people all the best with the current transition following the resignation of Pervez Musharraf and with new President Asif Ali Zardari. I think Pakistan is on the right path and I hope to see improved relations between our countries and other Commonwealth allies in the near future. Pakistan sometimes gets bad press in the West, but it is a crucial nation in terms of international security and peace. I think the West should be supportive of Pakistan’s efforts to curb extremism, embrace democracy and grow the national economy.
Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?
Individual posts but not so much any particular blogger. I usually only get stunned when someone posts extreme or racist content that is clearly offensive. One blogger I admire is Stephen Taylor in Canada. He has revolutionized the role of the internet in Canada and has worked hard to give the Conservative movement a leg up online over the other opposition parties. He deserves credit for putting together the site “Blogging Tories” and uniting Conservative bloggers on one website.
What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?
The conditions of those living in poverty is a major difference that has struck me when I travel. As a Rotarian I am often reminded how much those in the West take for granted. Our efforts to eradicate polio and work on clean water projects is something I am especially proud of. I think there is a lot of hope and potential for developing countries. Right now we are seeing double digit growth in some developing nations and that is a positive for their people and standard of livings. I think it is only a matter of time before developing nations begin to have much more influence on global political issues and the international economy through globalization.
What is the future of blogging?
Hopefully it will continue to grow and begin to influence public policy in a more direct way. I think the amount of bloggers are expanding every day. I think the media has started to pay attention to blogs and in many cases have their own. It will be interesting to see in the future if a US president or other world leader maintains a daily blog. Blogging is a reflection of the grassroots and I think long term it will return our political parties, media and government to the people.
You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
You always have to be careful what you write and post online for the world to see. I do not want to embarrass my professional colleagues or place something in cyberspace that I will one day regret posting. It takes up a lot of time, but I enjoy it. Sometimes I am not able to write about things I would like to write about because of considerations at work as well as my role within election campaigns. I am currently single and not sure if my blog, political and charity activism is responsible for that.
What are your future plans?
One day I would like to run for political office, but in the short term I am concerned about my family, friends and professional career as a public affairs consultant. I will continue blogging and see where it takes me.
Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
Thank you very much for this opportunity. I have enjoyed reading the Pakistani Spectator since I became aware of it and would like to wish all the Pakistani readers all the best with their personal and professional lives. I support those who are fighting for their democratic rights and look forward to great relations between our people and governments. I would be interested to know what the Pakistani people feel about Canada and also the current mission in Afghanistan. Please email me at darrylwolk@gmail.com or visit http://www.wolk.ca
Fundraising is a crucial part of any political campaign. Nationally, it will take at least $19 million dollars to run the campaign. Locally a campaign costs close to $90,000. Now is the time where both the local campaign and national campaign really needs your financial support. If you are a supporter of Lois Brown (or if you want to meet environment minister John Baird and find out more about the Conservative environmental platform), please consider attending this event. We need all the support we can get in this crucial 905 swing riding of Newmarket-Aurora. -Darryl
Last Minute REMINDER! LOIS BROWNinvites youto a very special event in Aurora.
Meet The Honourable John Baird at our "Gourmet Barbecue Under the Stars" Friday September 12
Reception at 6:00 Dinner: 7pm til 9pm Gourmet Barbecue and Live Music
Keynote Speaker: The Honourable John Baird
Location: The Vic Priestly estate at 14650 Bathurst St. (West side of Bathurst, South of Wellington)
Fundraiser in support of the Conservative Party of Canada Newmarket-Aurora Electoral District Association!
Today the election was finally called. Like all other ridings, Newmarket-Aurora has really been in a state of election readiness since the Progressive Conservative Party and Canadian Alliance Parties merged prior to the 2004 election. The 2004 and 2006 elections both gave us minority governments and one of the drawbacks of that is that an election can be called at any time. Basically since the day after the 2006 election, the Lois Brown campaign and Newmarket-Aurora Conservative riding association have been working hard to prepare for this day. We have been raising money, recruiting volunteers, identifying supports and lawn sign locations, putting together a campaign team and preparing the strategy that will now be executed during this campaign. The situation with Belinda Stronach had us on high alert for a by-election. That turned out to be an advantage as for months our team has been ready for the election in our riding.
As the Labour Day concluded, the election came up on us fast. We were prepared for the potential of Harper visiting the Governor General Tuesday, Friday or today. Over the long weekend, our sign team painted our stakes blue as a way of team building and ensuring maximum impact with our signs. We then spent the week organizing our sign team volunteers, dividing the riding into zones and held a special meeting on Friday night. At first we thought it would be a meeting and an overnight sign blitz until Saturday morning. Friday afternoon we were sure that the election was going to be called sometime around 8am on Sunday. As a result we organized our volunteers to be ready to paint the town blue the second the PM visited the Governor General. Earlier this morning the election was called and up until about 9pm several sign crews were going out hitting every major road, GO Train Station, and strategic location in the Newmarket-Aurora riding. Everyone worked hard and achieved our goals for the day. We put up hundreds of signs, hammered our stakes with pounders and used power drills to screw in the signs (note: I prefer using the twist ties but our campaign manager is a fan of drills and screws). It was a Sunday and it was raining. I was happy that the weather or the date did not deter our volunteers from coming out today.
Thanks to the efforts of our dedicated volunteers, tomorrow when residents of Newmarket & Aurora wake up and begin their commute to work; it will be impossible not to see several of the signs pictured above. Currently we have the Liberals and Tim Jones outnumbered at least 10-1 in signs. They will eventually catch up, but today a message was sent. Our campaign team is organized, enthusiastic and willing to work hard to get Lois Brown elected as our federal MP. This effort will continue and we will also begin fulfilling lawn sign requests. I look forward to working out the remainder of this campaign and doing everything we can to return Newmarket-Aurora to the blue column.
I also instructed the Lois Brown sign team to respect Liberal and other opposition signs. We will not block or knock down any of our opponent's signs and hope the same courtesy will be extended to us. Based on past campaigns I see no reason why that should be a concern. A sign war just means more work for all of us.
I will continue attempting to update the Blogging Tories and local residents about our efforts in Newmarket-Aurora. As the Conservatives and Stephen Harper look for a majority, this crucial swing riding in the 905 outside of Toronto will be crucial to those efforts. Obviously I will have to use common sense and reveal only what I can from a grass roots perspective. I hope you enjoy these updates and I wish other Conservative supporters the best of luck in their local campaigns.
“There is absolutely no truth to that story and I have made it very clear that I am committed to serving my constituents and that I am committed to the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and its leader, John Tory,” he said.
“I have no intention, whatsoever, of running federally in the next election.”
I like when Harper comments on hockey and curling. I appreciate him starting off the campaign demonstrating his family life and also his interests outside of politics. -Darryl
Back in Canada, Darryl Wolk, runs the headline: Sarah Palin was awesome! He adds:
After all the unfair media attacks, witch hunts in Alaska and criticism about her experience, Sarah Palin came out strong and confident yesterday, delivering the best speech at the Republican convention last night. I have to say she is impressive. Solid speaker (perhaps the female Obama on the teleprompter), ultra-Conservative and clearly a mom who puts family first. I think she has become a star and is a role model for females looking to enter politics. As a Conservative in Canada, I would love to see her hit the campaign trail with Harper for a couple days! Convention organizers for November should be trying to recruit her as the keynote speaker. I am still supporting Obama, but for the first time in this campaign, I think there is reason to get excited about the Republican ticket. Congratulations to Palin for delivering such a powerful and well executed speech under the circumstances she faced going into it. Awesome is all I have to say.
Democrat Obama has edge in race for White House: Harper
Interesting comments from Harper on the US election race. I have got news for the opposition parties...don't expect the George Bush stuff to stick this time. Canadians have seen Prime Minister Stephen Harper since 2006 and realize they have no reason to fear the usual "hidden agenda" smears that have become too predictable and are no longer credible. It will be interesting to see how this Canadian race takes shape with an election campaign going on at the same time South of the Border. -Darryl
Democrat Obama has edge in race for White House: Harper
2 hours ago
OTTAWA — Stephen Harper has let the world in on a little secret - he thinks Democrat Barack Obama has the edge in the race for the White House.
"I've been following it very closely," the prime minister observed Sunday as he bantered with reporters just before his own campaign plane took off for Quebec City.
Pressed for a personal prediction on the outcome of the U.S. presidential race, Harper at first demurred, suggesting anything he said would be misinterpreted.
After a pause, however, he went on to admit: "I've always said it's the Democrats' to lose."
He was even less reticent about control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, which are also up for grabs in the campaign south of the border.
"I still say it's the Democrats in a walk in Congress," he said.
Harper and his Conservative government were embarrassed last spring when a leaked Canadian diplomatic memo raised questions about Obama's stand on North American free trade.
The memo, purportedly based on a confidential conversation with an Obama aide, informed Ottawa that the Democratic candidate's past criticism of NAFTA was merely for U.S. political consumption and shouldn't be taken too literally.
The leak was widely seen as costing Obama the Ohio presidential primary then under way and sparked allegations that the Harper government was deliberately trying to undermine his candidacy.
The prime minister, who denied those assertions and later apologized to Obama over the affair, was more circumspect when Republican John McCain visited Ottawa in June.
Harper took care to be out of town at the time, as McCain painted himself as a free-trading ally of Canada in a speech to the Economic Club of Canada.
The prime minister said then that he'd held "good discussions" with both Obama and McCain in the past and considered them both friends of Canada.
He also said that although he was watching U.S. electoral developments with "great interest" he was also watching them with "great neutrality."
It now appears there are limits to his interest.
Asked Sunday whether he'd seen the Republican convention speech of vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin, Harper replied in the negative.
"I went to bed," he said. "I had a campaign to prepare."
Canadians will go to the polls on Oct. 14, after Conservative Leader Stephen Harper met with Governor General Michaelle Jean Sunday morning and asked her to dissolve Parliament.
"Between now and Oct. 14, Canadians will choose a government to look out for their interests at a time of global economic trouble," Harper told reporters on Sunday after he triggered the vote.
"They will choose between direction or uncertainty; between common sense or risky experiments; between steadiness or recklessness."
Harper said his government delivered on its commitments and developed consensus on major issues such as the mission in Afghanistan and Indian residential schools.
"But now we have come to a moment where the people of Canada have to choose the way forward."
At dissolution, the party standings in the 308-seat House of Commons are as follows:
Conservatives - 127
Liberals - 95
Bloc Quebecois - 48
NDP - 30
Independent - 4
Vacant - 4
One of the Independents, Blair Wilson of B.C., announced last weekend he is now a Green MP.
Harper identified the Liberal party as his principal opposition, although the NDP has ignored the Liberals in the early going and tried to position itself as the progressive alternative to the Tories.
Harper noted that there are four parties on the left looking for support, and said his party was the choice of centre and right voters.
Nasty campaign?
In an exclusive interview to be aired today on CTV's Question Period, Harper said he expects a nasty election campaign.
"To be really honest, I anticipate a very nasty, kind of personal-attack campaign," he told Lloyd Robertson, CTV's chief news anchor and senior news editor, taped Saturday at Harrington Lake.
"That's just what I'm anticipating; that's what the opposition has done in the past. I think that whether Canadians agree with what we're doing or not, I don't think they're going to believe the kind of personal attacks and scare tactics that we've seen in the past."
The Tories have made Harper the centrepiece of their campaign, and the NDP have aimed their initial ads at Harper.
On Sunday, Harper said he wouldn't be getting nasty with the other leaders.
"I have good relations with most of the other leaders and I respect all of them as individuals and as political adversaries," he said.
"We disagree. I think we have lots of scope in this election to go after the positions these leaders have taken.
"The Liberal Party, is running on a policy, a tax increase, a carbon tax (that) it doesn't want to talk about. So, I think that's why they are going to spend our time attacking us and attacking me personally. Certainly, that's been the tenor of the last few months of Parliament, so that's what I expect we'll have more of," Harper said.
Early election call
The election writ was dropped despite the Conservative Party's own legislation that set a fixed election date for October 2009.
Critics have charged the Tories of breaking their own law for political gain, and Sunday morning the Liberal Party issued a press release on the matter, under the subject header "Conservative Broken Platform Promise of the Day."
"(Harper) is the one who brought in the law ... and then just threw it out," former Liberal cabinet minister Sheila Copps told CTV Newsnet Sunday morning from Ottawa.
The NDP said the election call raises key issues that will be central in the campaign.
"It's another example of how Mr. Harper can't be trusted, and I think this is a good opportunity to take a look at leadership in this campaign," NDP strategist Brad Lavigne said.
Although the election call had been widely anticipated for several weeks, there were questions Sunday about the readiness of Stephane Dion's Liberals.
The Liberals' election plane is not expected to be ready until near the end of the week, and Dion will reportedly travel by bus for the first few days of the campaign. The Conservatives claimed that's a blunder which raises questions about his leadership and organizational skills.
Copps said the Liberals are ready for a tough election fight and local candidates across the country are fully prepared.
"People's expectations of Mr. Dion have been driven into the ground by Mr. Harper's negative ad campaigns," Copps said, noting that voters will get a different picture of the Liberal leader during the campaign.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has demonstrated at home and abroad that he is a strong leader and has the best interests of Canadians at heart. He has delivered real action on the priorities of all Canadians including:
Significantly reducing taxes including cutting the GST from 7% to 5%
Making historic investments in health care
Taking action on the environment with Canada's first ever mandatory greenhouse gas emission regulations
Passing tough new laws to keep gun criminals and sexual predators behind bars
Protecting our sovereignty over Canada's North
As your Conservative Candidate, I am proud to be a member of the Conservative team and am determined to see Newmarket and Aurora represented by a Conservative Member of Parliament following the next federal election. It's time for Newmarket and Aurora to have a seat in our government.
Having been born and raised in King Township, attended high school in Aurora and raised my family in Newmarket, I know what makes our community tick. I appreciate our achievements and understand our challenges. Most importantly I understand that we want our government to work for us. I know the people of Newmarket and Aurora care about those less fortunate and are prepared to help. At the same time I know we expect timely health care services, action on cleaning up our environment, reductions in our taxes, support for our families and safe streets and neighbourhoods. In other words, a better quality of life for ourselves and our families, right here in Newmarket-Aurora.
I look forward to speaking to my fellow residents about these priorities over the coming weeks, and to answering any questions you may have.
(905) 830-3433
***
All About Lois:
Lois Brown was born and raised in York Region. A business owner and long-time volunteer in the community, Lois and her family have resided in Newmarket for 28 years.
Lois owns and operates a business that advises companies in Ontario and British Columbia on workers compensation issues and helps facilitate their injured employees in their return to work.
Prior to operating her own business, Lois worked at the constituency and Queen's Park offices of MPP Frank Klees from 1995 to 2001. There she honed her skills at navigating through the many levels of government, resolving issues and problems for local residents, developing a particular expertise in the health care area.
An accomplished musician, Lois holds an ARCT degree from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. She volunteers as the accompanist for the York Region Police Chorus, a volunteer initiative of the York Regional Police that raises money for local charities and performs in Canada and internationally. She founded Newmarket's Mothers of Preschoolers program and continues to volunteer at Southlake Village Seniors residence.
Lois was a public appointee to the Board of the College of Dental Hygienists from 2001 to 2003 where she was part of a team responsible for the management of a significant budget, a large investment portfolio and the management of Ontario standards of practice. Subsequent to that appointment she was elected Vice President.
Lois has volunteered for years in the political sphere and has participated at the executive level in both federal and provincial politics. In 2005 she was elected to the National Council of the Conservative Party of Canada where she works with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and MPs.
A student of life-long learning, Lois is currently completing a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Economics from the University of Waterloo. Lois and her husband Kelvin have two grown daughters.
Conservative Transit Announcement Great for GTA and York Region
This announcement is great news for York Region and commuters in the GTA. A good example of Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party brining actual results to our riding. -Darryl
Government of Canada invests in Toronto Transit: Flaherty announces funds will begin flowing to Spadina Subway Extension
TORONTO, Sept. 5 /CNW/ - People living and working in Toronto will begin to benefit soon from reduced traffic congestion, shorter commuting times, and cleaner air through the Toronto-York Spadina Subway extension. The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced that a contribution agreement has been signed by the federal, provincial and municipal governments, meaning that funds for the completion of the project will now begin flowing.
"The Government of Canada is helping to provide the students, commuters, and families of the Greater Toronto Area with transportation options, getting people out of their cars and onto public transit," said Minister Flaherty. "We are committed to working with our provincial and municipal partners to improve transportation infrastructure across the country. The Toronto-York Spadina Subway extension is an excellent example of how we're delivering real results."
The Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension project encompasses an 8.6 kilometre extension to the Toronto Transit Commission's Spadina subway line, extending subway service to York University and the Vaughan Corporate Centre. With the signing of the contribution agreement, the Government of Canada will commit to paying up to $622 million under the Building Canada infrastructure plan towards the design and construction of this project. This is in addition to the $75 million already received by the project under the Public Transit Capital Trust.
In addition to the funding being made available for the Spadina Subway extension, several other transit projects in the GTA are being funded by the Government of Canada. They include:
- York VIVA (Phase 1) - $50 million toward a $164 million bus rapid transit project; - York VIVA (Phase 2) - up to $85 million toward the second phase of this bus rapid transit project; - GO Transit Rail Improvement Program - $385 million toward a $1 billion project; Through this project, six of the seven rail corridors being used by GO are being upgraded, as well as some work around Union Station; - Brampton AcceleRide - $95 million from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund toward a $285 million Bus Rapid Transit project; - Mississauga Bus Rapid Transit - $83 million from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund toward a $249 million project; and - Toronto Transit Commission Strategic Capital Projects - $350 million from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund towards a $1.2 billion project.
The Government of Canada provided $500 million for public transit infrastructure in Budget 2008. This will provide up to $194.5 million to Ontario under the Public Transit Fund. Under the previous Public Transit Capital Trust, the Province of Ontario has received $351.5 million, which it can use for various transit projects over the next three years. In addition, all Ontario municipalities will continue to receive a GST rebate.
"It's clear that for the Government of Canada, investing in transportation infrastructure for the people of the GTA has been a key priority," Minister Flaherty said. "We are delivering on this priority even further today with the Spadina Subway extension."
For further information: Chisholm Pothier, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Finance, (613) 996-7861; Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
Rick Mercer reminds us of Dion and the Liberal Party Record since 2006
A classic song from Rick Mercer from earlier in the year. Dion is going to have a hard time attacking the government record when he allowed it to pass.
And on that note, the NDP releases an attack ad to show that they are the only ones who left leaning voters can trust to stand up to the Conservative Party. Best of luck Jack! I hope you and Elizabeth May are successful in splitting the Liberal vote.
Public event for Prime Minister Stephen Harper for Sunday, September 7th is:
Ottawa
8:05 a.m. – Prime Minister Stephen Harper will leave 24 Sussex en route to Rideau Hall to meet with Governor General Michaëlle Jean to ask her to dissolve the 39th Parliament for an election call October 14th, 2008.
I really like this one. I have thought for a long time that Harper should let his personality shine through his politics. This shows he is a caring father, family man and regular "joe" just like us.
Great message on New Canadians, captures the spirit of Canada and our multicultural history
How can we not mention veterans. They are responsible for all the freedoms we enjoy.
I think Harper is off to a good start with these ads. I think the Conservatives have a good story to tell with their record and the platform that is about to be coming down the pipe. -Darryl
First Media Coverage of the Race in Newmarket-Aurora
It looks like Harper is going to see the GG on Sunday at 9am meaning the campaign will officially start this weekend. The Era Banner did a write up today on the race in Newmarket-Aurora and also the race North of us. You can read the article at the link below. -Darryl
You can expect hard-fought race between Tim Jones, Lois Brown
Regional News
September 04, 2008 09:51 PM
By: Patrick Mangion
With its ethnic diversity and upwardly mobile population, York Region is fertile ground for political parties waiting to make inroads during an election campaign.
The expected call for a federal election will be no exception.
For the Conservative Party — which would love nothing more than a majority win next month — picking up more of York’s seven federal seats is a combination it has yet been unable to crack in Ontario.
Despite wrestling power from successive federal Liberal governments two years ago, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservatives mustered just one win here: Minister of Democratic Reform Peter Van Loan in the York-Simcoe riding.
With little scandal to ratchet up local politicking since the 2006 election, those charged with the task of predicting the will of the Canadian electorate may foresee little change in York Region ridings.
But some intriguing races are already taking shape in the region’s north end.
Newmarket-Aurora Liberal MP Belinda Stronach’s departure will likely divert the national media spotlight elsewhere, but Newmarket-Aurora can still be expected to produce a hard-fought race between Conservative Lois Brown or Liberal Tim Jones.
York-Simcoe, on the other hand, has been won handily by Mr. Van Loan in 2006 and 2004, defeating Liberal candidate Kate Wilson both times.
This time, first-time candidate Liberal Judith Moses will join NDP and Green Party candidates hoping to unseat the incumbent.
Candidates for the Conservative Party National Council:
I will be supporting Simon Chapelle and Kara Johnson for sure. Still waiting to learn more about the other candidates. National council election is set for the policy convention in November (if that happens). Congratulations to all who put their names forward for this crucial role within our party. A total of four will get elected to serve from the names below. -Darryl
After all the unfair media attacks, witch hunts in Alaska and criticism about her experience, Sarah Palin came out strong and confident yesterday, delivering the best speech at the Republican convention last night. I have to say she is impressive. Solid speaker (perhaps the female Obama on the teleprompter), ultra-Conservative and clearly a mom who puts family first. I think she has become a star and is a role model for females looking to enter politics. As a Conservative in Canada, I would love to see her hit the campaign trail with Harper for a couple days! Convention organizers for November should be trying to recruit her as the keynote speaker. I am still supporting Obama, but for the first time in this campaign, I think there is reason to get excited about the Republican ticket. Congratulations to Palin for delivering such a powerful and well executed speech under the circumstances she faced going into it. Awesome is all I have to say. -Darryl
Lieberman and Thompson speeches from last night's Republican Convention
Don't expect Lieberman to retain his chairmanship or ability to caucus with Democrats following the November election. For now his vote is required, down the road he will be turfed. Fairly decent speech though. -Darryl
Fred Thompson delivers his best speech yet. Where was this speech when he was campaigning? -Darryl
Obama launches "Same" ad just in time for Bush's speech at the Republican Convention
Good ad. I will post the speeches from tonight's convention later tonight when they become available. I will not be commenting on the story related to Sarah Palin's daughter because I do not think it is relevant to the campaign as it is a personal matter within the Palin family. I try and do my best to separate legitimate criticism of political positions from unfair personal attacks on this blog. -Darryl
Part of "Your Vote" on the CBC National during the 2008 Canadian federal election
Darryl covering the election on Rogers TV
Darryl on first edition of Focal Point with John Taylor on Rogers Television York Region
Darryl on Insights with Pam McDonald
Darryl with fellow bloggers Stephen Taylor and Andrew Prescott
Darryl with Prime Minister Harper
Darryl with the Prime Minister
Darryl with Stephen Harper
Darryl with Laureen Harper
Darryl with Tim Hudak
Darryl with Tim Hudak at the Holland Marsh
Darryl with Mayor Tony Van Bynen, MPP Frank Klees and MP Lois Brown
Darryl with Tony Van Bynen
Darryl, Lois Brown, Ken and Greg with Laureen Harper
Darryl with John Capobianco and Frank Klees
Darryl in Chicago Tribune at Barack Obama speech on Super Tuesday in Chicago
Darryl with John Tory
Darryl with John Tory
Darryl with Mike Harris
Darryl with Ernie Eves
Darryl with Preston Manning
Darryl with Peter MacKay
Darryl with Belinda Stronach
Darryl with Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Canon
Darryl with Jim Flaherty
Darryl with Christine Elliott
Darryl with Christine Elliott
Darryl with Jason Kenney
Darryl with John Baird
Darryl with Tim Hudak
Darryl with Jim Prentice
Darryl with Peter MacKay and Belinda Stronach
Darryl with Jason Kenney
Darryl with Monte Solberg, Rona Ambrose, Helena Guergis and Lois Brown
Darryl, Lois Brown and Newmarket-Aurora delegates with Stephen Fletcher
Darryl with Peter Van Loan
Darryl with Chris Alexander
Darryl with Lisa MacLeod
Darryl with Sandra Buckler
Darryl with Wajid Khan
Darryl with Peter Kent
Darryl with Mike Duffy
Darryl with Maxim Bernier
Darryl with Paul Calandra
Darryl with Lois Brown, Paul Calandra and Melissa Bhagat
Darryl with Helena Guergis and Rahim Jaffer
Darryl with Frank Klees and Lois Brown
Darryl with Frank Klees
Darryl at the Rally for Canada with Tim Hudak speaking
Darryl with Julia Munro
Darryl with Randy Hillier
Darryl with Peter Shurman
Darryl with Laurie Scott
Darryl with Don Plett
Darryl with Mayor Tony Van Bynen and Stephen Somerville
Darryl with John Taylor
Darryl with Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti
Darryl with Councillor Chris Emanuel at Obama Super Tuesday Speech
Darryl and Ward 3 Councilor Victor Woodhouse
Darryl with Evelyn Buck
Darryl with Hazel McCallion
Darryl with Jane Pitfield
Darryl with Manitoba Conservative leader Hugh McFadye
Darryl with Garth Turner
Darryl with David Suzuki
Darryl with Green leader Elizabeth May and former leader Jim Harris
Darryl with Sue-Ann Levy
Darryl with Steve Paikin
Darryl with York Region Police Chief Armand La Barge
Darryl with Frank Stronach at the Magna Hoedown
Darryl with Afghanistan Consul General Habibbulah Qaderi
Darryl with Pinball Clemons
Darryl with Elisha Cuthbert
In Cartoon
About Me
Darryl Wolk
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
I was born in Kapuskasing, ON and moved to Newmarket in 1984. Both my parents are high school teachers. I have one sister Melissa. I attended St. Elizabeth Seton Elementary School, Sacred Heart High School and the University of Windsor where I did my MBA, BCOMM and BA in Political Science. I have worked in the past at King Valley Golf Club, World Wrestling Entertainment, Paramount Canada's Wonderland, Jonas Software and now work as a public affairs consultant.
In politics, I worked on my first campaign with Frank Klees. I started federally with the Reform Party and later held memberships in both the PC and Canadian Alliance parties prior to the merger. I worked on Belinda Stronach's leadership and local campaign prior to her crossing the floor. I have also worked on campaigns including Julia Munro, Lois Brown and various local candidates for mayor and council. I am active in the local community through the Rotary Club, Lions Club, various municipal committees, hold several memberships and participate in many charitable events. From time to time I appear as a political pundit in the media.
Meet The Honourable John Baird 
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